A great gua sha oil is essential for maximizing the benefits of this amazing ancient skincare ritual, which boosts circulation, promotes lymphatic drainage, reduces swelling, stimulates collagen, and consequently enhances the skin's ability to absorb active ingredients.

There’s something magical about gua sha: it's more than a skincare technique, it's a transformation you can see and feel almost instantly. This is why it’s one of my favorite skincare rituals together with DIY sheet masks. After using it on one side of your face, the difference is clear, and you’ll immediately notice less puffiness and more glow. But as a DIY cosmetics formulator, I wasn’t satisfied with using just any oil. I wanted a diy gua sha oil that does it all: enhances circulation, promotes lymphatic drainage, nourishes the skin, and brings a little joy to the process.

This gua sha oil recipe is the result of my journey to create the ultimate gua sha oil, a formulation I’m proud to share because it’s functional, thoughtful, and filled with effective ingredients. Let me walk you through the process and my discoveries along the way!

The Ideal Oils for Gua Sha

The foundation of this gua sha oil lies in the perfect blend of carrier oils. So, I started to make my research for the best ingredients, starting with the base, because in a cosmetic like this, the oils are everything. The perfect oils for this purpose should help to improve circulation, reduce puffiness and, most importantly for a face oil, not be comedogenic. I wanted something that not only worked but felt amazing:

• Grapeseed Oil: A lightweight, non-greasy oil that’s perfect for gua sha and boosts circulation. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic and regulates sebum production thanks to linoleic acid, so it won’t clog pores, making it the best natural oil for gua sha and ideal for oily, acne-prone, or combination skin.
  
  
• Red Vine Leaf Infused Oil: The star ingredient! Red vine leaves are known for their ability to strengthen blood vessels, improve microcirculation, and support lymphatic drainage. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, helping to calm massage redness and irritation.

Personal tip: Red vine leaf infused oil isn’t the easiest ingredient to find, so I infused dried, grounded leaves (find them in herbal shops) into sunflower oil (you can even use grapeseed oil). You can do this too! Let the leaves steep in oil for 2-3 weeks (or use the hot method to have it ready in one day) and then filter it. If red vine leaf infused oil isn’t available, simply substitute with more grapeseed oil, as it's still a fantastic choice for diy gua sha oil.

This thoughtful blend of oils forms the base of a gua sha oil for all skin types, including oily, combination and acne-prone skin. It's lightweight, effective, and full of benefits for circulation and puffiness.

Gua Sha Essential Oils: Circulation + Joy

The essential oils in this gua sha oil recipe are more than just functional. Here’s how I selected each one, along with my personal notes and why rosemary and cypress are the perfect essential oils for Gua Sha:

• Rosemary Essential Oil: I knew I needed rosemary from the start because it’s a classic for improving circulation.
  
  
• Cypress Essential Oil: While rosemary focuses on circulation, cypress is the lymphatic powerhouse. It’s perfect for reducing puffiness and swelling, which is exactly what gua sha aims to do. I love how it complements rosemary by focusing more on supporting lymphatic drainage. Together, they balance each other beautifully, acting on both fronts for a complete and effective gua sha oil recipe!
  
  
• Litsea Cubeba Essential Oil: Why? Because it sparkles joy! This was a personal touch that I just had to include. I’ll admit, cypress and rosemary are functional but not exactly exciting scent-wise. Litsea cubeba is like fairy dust! Its bright, citrusy aroma lifts the entire blend, making everything feel fresh and uplifting. I believe a skincare routine should sparkle joy, and litsea cubeba ensures that even on lazy days, I’m motivated to grab my gua sha tool. If you’re like me and want your skincare to be both effective and enjoyable, you’ll appreciate how litsea transforms the overall vibe of the oil. Plus, litsea has astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. If you don’t have litsea cubeba, you can leave it out, but I encourage you to try it if you can.

Active Ingredients: More Than Just a Gua Sha Face Oil

To take this oil to the next level, I added antiage active ingredients to make it as functional as a serum:

• Q10: A powerful antioxidant that protects against free radicals and improves skin elasticity, promoting a youthful glow.
  
  
• Bakuchiol: The gentle, plant-based alternative to retinol. Bakuchiol stimulates collagen, evens skin tone and regulates sebum production without irritation, making this an ideal gua sha oil for combination skin.

Supporting Ingredients for Texture and Functionality

I wanted a texture that was light yet rich enough to provide glide for the gua sha tool without absorbing too quickly:

• Cetyl Alcohol (2%): A small addition, but it makes a big difference! It slightly adds viscosity to the oil for a richer feel without compromising its liquid texture, offering a luxurious glide without feeling greasy.
  
  
• Squalane: Lightweight yet deeply nourishing, squalane is one of my favorite ingredients for skincare. It softens the skin, restores the barrier and enhances the absorption of active ingredients. Its silky texture contributes to the overall feel of the oil, making it glide effortlessly while delivering hydration.
  
  
• Raspberry Seed Oil: This oil was an intentional addition for its fast-absorbing yet balancing properties. It’s ideal for combination skin, as it regulates sebum production while being non-comedogenic. I also love how soothing and regenerating raspberry seed oil is, perfect for calming redness or irritation that may arise during gua sha, especially for sensitive skin. Beyond that, it has antioxidant benefits, which align beautifully with the overall anti-aging goals of this gua sha oil recipe.

These ingredients, together with grapeseed oil, make the texture sublime. It’s not too light that it disappears mid-massage, and not too heavy that it feels greasy. Just 2-3 drops are enough for the entire face, but you can customize based on your preferences. This formula is especially suitable as a gua sha oil for combination skin, as every ingredient has been carefully chosen to avoid clogging pores while addressing hydration and sebum regulation.

DIY Gua Sha oil Ingredients

• Grapeseed Oil: 49.7 g (49.7%)
• Red Vine Leaf Infused Oil: 20 g (20%)
• Raspberry Seed Oil: 20 g (20%)
• Squalane: 5 g (5%)
• Cetyl Alcohol: 2 g (2%)
• Q10 (Coenzyme Q10 Powder): 0.3 g (0.3%)
• Bakuchiol: 1 g (1%)
• Vitamin E: 1 g (1%)
• Bisabolol: 0.5 g (0.5%)
• Rosemary Essential Oil: 0.2 g (0.2%)
• Cypress Essential Oil: 0.2 g (0.2%)
• Litsea Cubeba Essential Oil: 0.1 g (0.1%)

What if you don’t have all these ingredients? No problem! You can make a simple Gua Sha oil using just 10 ml of grapeseed oil and adding 1 drop of rosemary essential oil and 1 drop of Cypress essential oil!

DIY Gua Sha Oil Recipe Instructions

1. Melt Cetyl Alcohol: Add the cetyl alcohol and grapeseed oil to a beaker, then gently stir until the cetyl alcohol is fully melted and incorporated.
   
   
2. Cool the Mixture: Remove the container from the heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
   
   
3. Incorporate the Actives: Stir in the Q10 powder, mixing thoroughly to ensure it dissolves. Add the raspberry seed oil, red vine leaf infused oil, squalane, bakuchiol, vitamin E and bisabolol. Combine well.
   
   
4. Add Essential Oils: Add the rosemary, cypress and litsea cubeba essential oils. Stir to ensure the oils are evenly distributed.
   
   
5. Bottle Your Gua Sha Oil: Pour the finished product into a clean, glass bottle with a pipette or dropper. 

How to Use Your DIY Gua Sha Oil

1. Oil Cleanse your skin and add a toner (I formulated an optimized one for Gua Sha - stay tuned!).
2. Apply 2-3 drops of this gua sha oil, warming it in your hands before smoothing it over your face and neck.
3. Use your gua sha tool as usual.
4. Take your time and enjoy! The blend of litsea cubeba, rosemary and cypress will uplift your mood while working magic on your skin!
5. Apply your favorite hydrating lotion.

Why you’ll love this Formula?

This oil is more than just functional and will make your gua sha ritual a moment of self-care and joy. Every ingredient has been carefully chosen to support circulation, lymphatic drainage and provide an anti aging boost. Try this formula and let me know what you think in Instagram! And if you tweak it, I’d love to hear your variations!

A Thoughtful DIY Christmas Gift Idea

One of my favorite things about this diy gua sha oil is that it makes the perfect DIY Christmas gift. Imagine gifting someone your homemade gua sha oil  pairing it with a gua sha tool for a complete, luxurious skincare experience. This thoughtful combination is ideal for anyone who loves self-care or is just starting their skincare journey.

You can easily create a few batches of this gua sha oil recipe, bottle it in pretty glass dropper bottles and pair it with a gua sha tool in a beautifully curated gift box. To make it even more personal, include a handwritten note with instructions on how to use the oil with the tool. It’s creative, customizable... and sparkles joy!